- All
- Course
- EXPO & Packet Pick-up
- Gear Check
- General/Miscellaneous
- Important Race Information
- Parking
- Qualifying for Boston
- Race Registration
- Run for a Reason
- Runner Goodies
- Scoring
- Spectators
- Start and Finish Areas
- Weather
The Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026.
The We Are Houston 5K presented by Aramco and Chevron will take place on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.
The option to purchase refundable registration is only available during the application/registration process.
All Houston Marathon Committee event fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. In the event you are unable to participate, for any reason, you will not receive a refund.
Participants will not be able to cancel, refund or defer their registrations.
The Houston Marathon Committee is a not-for-profit organization and has a strict no refund policy unless it was purchased on the registration form through Protect Group. The no refund policy is listed on our website, and you are required to check a box agreeing to this policy within the registration form. Please feel free to contact us with additional questions.
Individuals who are concerned they may not be able to participate in the Houston Marathon Weekend of Events can pay an additional service fee (14% of all items purchased, excluding event processing fees) for a 100% refund of the entry fee and additional products paid by the participant during the registration process. Registered participants, who purchased refundable registration, and are unable to participate in the race (for one of the wide range of perils covered) must apply to receive a 100% refund of their entry fee and ancillary purchases. An update on the application should be received within 10 business days of the application submission. Please note, refundable registration is not eligible to participants whose entry will be paid for by a charity, tour sponsor partner.
Refundable registration is available to individuals who paid for their entry and/or additional products during the registration process. Please note, refundable registration is not available to individuals whose entry will be paid for by a charity, tour or sponsor partner.
No. In the event of a cancellation by the event, the additional service fee associated with refundable registration would not be refunded.
No. Once your refund has been approved the process cannot be undone. We encourage you to complete and submit the refund application when you are confident you can no longer participate in the Houston Marathon Weekend of Events.
If you purchased refundable registration and your reason for not participating is included in the terms, you must complete the Refund Application Form as soon as possible to apply for a refund. For more information on refundable booking visit: refundable.me/haku/
A wide range of perils are covered by refundable registration. Please note, refundable registration does not cover the following:
- If the participant does not attend the event because they are concerned about the coronavirus (COVID-19) or are self-isolating without a positive COVID-19 test or other non-COVID-19 communicable diseases leading to quarantines or travel restrictions
- Actual or perceived: war, hostilities, civil commotion, etc.
- If event organizers cancel the race
- Processing fees associated with items (entry fee, ancillary products, etc.) purchased during the application process
For more information on the perils covered by refundable registration visit: refundable.me/haku/
Refundable registration administered by the Protect Group only provides a refund for the listed wide range of perils covered. Communicable diseases are not a covered reason offered by the Protect Group. See Covid-19 section in the following link to see where Protect Group may consider a refund related to Covid-19: refundable.me/haku/
Individuals who add refundable registration to their application will pay an additional service fee (16% of all items purchased, excluding event processing fees) for a 100% refund of the entry fee and additional products paid by the participant during the registration process. If a refund application is submitted and approved, the additional service fee (16% of all items purchased, excluding event processing fees) will not be included in the amount refunded.
No, the Houston Marathon does not allow the transfer of registrations.
Registered runners who give their bib to another person and the person to whom the bib is given will be disqualified and prohibited from participating in subsequent Houston Marathon events for a minimum of two years.
No, we do not have a waitlist.
Yes. Military discounts are available for active and retired U.S. military personnel. This offer is not available for dependents. Please email the Houston Marathon Committee prior to registering at marathon@houstonmarathon.com for additional information.
Discounts will be offered to Marathon and Half Marathon participants only.
The Houston Marathon Committee will not issue refunds for the military discount once you have registered.
Yes. Please click here for information on our athletes with disabilities program.
The Houston Marathon Health & Fitness EXPO presented by Houston Methodist is home to Packet Pick-Up for all Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon, We Are Houston 5K, and Run for a Reason participants – and is FREE and open to the public. So bring your friends and family to join in the fun!
George R. Brown Convention Center, 3rd Floor, Grand Ballroom and Hall B3
- Friday, Jan. 110 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 9, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Each participant will receive a final confirmation for packet pick-up sent via email (if you provided a valid email address during registration). You will need to bring a government-issued photo ID and an electronic or printed copy of your confirmation to the EXPO to pick up your packet. A photo ID is not required for children 17 and under. There is no packet pick-up the morning of the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon. If you do not pick up your packet at the EXPO, you will not be able to run in your race. Packets will NOT be mailed.
Each participant will receive a final confirmation sent via email (if you provided a valid email address during registration).
Be sure to check your spam folder for the confirmation email.
Bring a government-issued photo ID and an electronic or printed copy of your confirmation to the EXPO to pick up your packet. A photo ID is not required for children 17 and under. A confirmation reprint will also be available on our website in early January, if you do not receive the email.
Yes, but participants may only pick up ONE participant packet in addition to their own. There is a designated area on your final confirmation that allows you to release your packet to someone else. Your friend will need to bring a hard copy of your final confirmation with your signature in the designated area along with a printed or electronic copy of your government-issued photo identification in order to retrieve your packet. A photo ID is not required for children 17 and under.
Participants are limited to picking up a packet for ONE additional participant. Those picking up for a child 17 and under may pick up more than one additional packet. No group pick-up will be allowed.
There is no packet pick-up on the morning of the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon. Packet pick-up will be held at the Houston Marathon Health & Fitness EXPO presented by Houston Methodist.
If you do not pick up your packet at the EXPO, you will not be able to run in your race. Packets will NOT be mailed.
There WILL be race day packet pick-up for the We Are Houston 5K presented by Aramco and Chevron on January 10, 2026.
You will be notified of your assigned bib number when you receive your final confirmation via email in early January.
Yes. Entrants who are assigned to different corrals but wish to start together may do so. If your friend was placed in a corral behind yours, then you are welcome to forego your assignment and join them in the other corral. Entrants may move back to another corral, but not forward.
Learn about the time limits in the Course Time Limit section on our Course Info page here.
You will be notified of your corral assignment via email in December.
Yes, we do offer pacers for the marathon and half marathon. The Pace Team is a group of runners who run together during the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon. They share the same finish time goal and help one another stay on pace.
For more information, please click here.
Per USATF rules, gun time is used to determine prize money winners and time bonus recipients. Tag time (chip time) will be used to determine all age-group winners and other award recipients.
Awards are given to the top three male, female and non-binary finishers in each race for the following age categories: 11 and under (half marathon & 5K only), 12-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 50-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90+
If a registrant prefers not to specify a gender, the registrant may do so but will not be eligible for age group awards. Upon finishing, such a registrant will be an official finisher and will receive only an overall placing among all other race registrants.
There will be no awards ceremony. All age group awards will be mailed following the event.
The marathon and half marathon athletes with disabilities wheelchair and handcycle fields will start at 6:35 a.m. The Aramco Houston Half Marathon elite field will start at 6:45 a.m. The Chevron Houston Marathon elite field will start at 6:55 a.m., followed immediately by both the marathon and half marathon open fields.
The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) will be open at 5:00 a.m. We suggest that runners arrive at the GRB before 5:30 a.m. since the Houston Police Department will begin closing streets in and around downtown at 5:30 a.m. Please keep in mind that there may be heavy traffic and you may have to park a few blocks away from the GRB. Give yourself extra time to make sure you are not late!
You will receive a clear gear check bag during packet pick-up at the EXPO. This clear gear check bag is the ONLY bag you may check before the race. No other bags will be accepted at Gear Check. Clear bags that contain other bags will not be accepted.
Gear Check is located in Halls C and D of the George R. Brown Convention Center. A map of the GRB can be found in your Athlete Guide which you will receive via email or on our website as we get closer to the race.
You will find a gear check tag attached to the top of your race bib. The tag is printed with your bib number. Detach the tag and attach it to the Gear Check bag you received as part of your race packet and bring it to Gear Check in Halls C and D in the George R. Brown Convention Center.
An additional gear claim ticket is attached to the bottom of your race bib. After the race, visit the Gear Check area and present your gear claim ticket to retrieve your bag.
Marathon and half marathon finisher merchandise will be handed out in the GRB after the Sunday races. All finishers will receive a medal after crossing the finish line. Marathon and half marathon runners will use the “finisher shirt” ticket attached to the bottom of their bibs to claim their finisher shirt. Marathon finishers will also receive a glass beer stein. 5K finisher merchandise will be handed out after the Saturday race.
Finishers that were registered for both the 5K and marathon or half marathon will receive a third medal. The medals will be located inside the George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall E, following the start of the Sunday races. After the race, please present your marathon or half marathon medal and verify your name to receive your Houston Double medal.
You can make address updates in your participant account.
Front Corral Seeding – Qualifying Standards
Runners may request for front corral seeding by entering a verified time with proof during the registration process or they may add it to their participant account after registering until the deadline listed below.
Deadline: Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025
All time standards are listed below, and you must comply with the following rules.
- You must add your qualifying time during registration or in your participant account.
- Only the distances included below will be accepted.
- Time must have been run on or after Jan. 1, 2024.
- All submissions will be reviewed and verified.
- Verification will be based on official chip time.
- Road race times only; certified 10,000 meter or farther distance track times and Ironman.
- Race must be a USATF or foreign equivalent certified course with online race results.
| Qualifying Time Standards for Front Corral Seeding | |||||
| Gender | Age Group | Marathon | Half Marathon | 10 Miler | 10K |
| Male & Female | OPEN (all ages)* | 3:29:59 | 1:44:59 | 1:14:34 | 0:45:38 |
No predictions here! Below are averages from previous Houston Marathons:
Average low temperature: 45F
Average high temperature: 63F
Mean average temperature: 54F
The race will go on regardless of precipitation. The race will only be cancelled if weather conditions present imminent danger to participants.
The course is a 50/50 mix of concrete and asphalt/blacktop.
If a participant is caught cheating, they will be disqualified and prohibited from participating in Houston Marathon events for a minimum of 2 years.
To become a top fundraiser, you must have a fundraising page for the current year’s fundraising campaign for the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason charity program. To have a fundraising page, you must either sign up as a Fundraise for Registration participant or create a fundraising page via our Charity Index. Using this fundraising page, you will be able to set a fundraising goal, email potential donors, keep track of your donations and send thank you emails.
The top fundraiser is one who raises the most money during the campaign period. For the 2026 event, the period begins on January 19, 2025 and concludes on January 30, 2026.
The Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon start line is on Congress Avenue at Fannin. Entry to the start line corrals is only a few blocks from the George R. Brown Convention Center.
The finish is at Lamar and Crawford, one block up from the George R. Brown Convention Center.
The chart below shows the approximate times that the first runners will arrive at each mile marker. Please keep in mind that these times are approximate and showing up at the time listed does not guarantee that you will see the first runners as they streak by.
| Mile 1: 7:06 a.m. | Mile 10: 7:51 a.m. | Mile 19: 8:36 a.m. |
| Mile 2: 7:11 a.m. | Mile 11: 7:56 a.m. | Mile 20: 8:41 a.m. |
| Mile 3: 7:16 a.m. | Mile 12: 8:01 a.m. | Mile 21: 8:46 a.m. |
| Mile 4: 7:21 a.m. | Mile 13: 8:06 a.m. | Mile 22: 8:51 a.m. |
| Mile 5: 7:26 a.m. | Mile 14: 8:11 a.m. | Mile 23: 8:56 a.m. |
| Mile 6: 7:31 a.m. | Mile 15: 8:16 a.m. | Mile 24: 9:01 a.m. |
| Mile 7: 7:36 a.m. | Mile 16: 8:21 a.m. | Mile 25: 9:06 a.m. |
| Mile 8: 7:41 a.m. | Mile 17: 8:26 a.m. | Mile 26: 9:11 a.m. |
| Mile 9: 7:46 a.m. | Mile 18: 8:31 a.m. | Finish: 9:13 a.m. |
The HMC is providing a lactation space for race day to provide a safe and private area for nursing mothers. The lactation space is in Hall E of the GRB (Southernmost hall of the GRB) located next to the exit of the finish chute. A volunteer will be stationed outside the space to monitor the entrance/exit and to capture contact information for post-race communication. The space consists of three private booths and a small communal space. Electrical will be available.
The HMC is unable to provide equipment storage. Equipment should not be left unattended. Equipment can be checked at gear check in the approved, clear gear check bag. A second bag will be provided for lactation equipment to be checked on race day. No other bags will be accepted. Milk will not be stored or kept by the HMC and cannot be stored at gear check. If participants wish to keep their milk, they will need to make appropriate accommodations. A biohazard bin will be provided within the space for disposal of milk.
The lactation space is to be used for pumping needs only. Changing should be done within the changing areas on either side of gear check.
The Houston Marathon Committee offers an Athlete tracking messaging service for all marathon and half marathon participants through the mobile app. This service allows registered users to track their favorite runner as they pass various course checkpoints. The #HouMarathon mobile app is available for apple and android devices.
During the race, Live Searchable Results are available on our website. You can look up a runner’s status on the website using the runner’s last name. Following the race, results will also be posted on our website.
Visit the Information Booth located inside Hall B of the GRB. The staff here has access to a list of all runners who have been admitted to, discharged from and/or transferred from the Medical Area.
The easiest way to find your family and friends after the race is to have a plan beforehand.
Reunion Area
The Reunion Area will be located in Hall A of the George R. Brown Convention Center. The Reunion Area is marked with signs showing letters of the alphabet and runners are encouraged to ask their family and friends to meet them under the sign showing the first letter of the runner’s last name.
RunFest presented by Michelob Ultra
RunFest presented by Michelob Ultra will be located just feet from the finish line inside Discovery Green Park and it’s a great place to meet up and hang out with friends and family after the race.
Charity Village (inside RunFest)
Charity Village located inside RunFest presented by Michelob Ultra will be a great place to gather with friends and family if you are a Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason charity participant.
The Run for a Reason (RFAR) program is a charity campaign that happens in conjunction with the Chevron Houston Marathon, Aramco Houston Half Marathon and We Are Houston 5K. Money raised through the Run for a Reason program goes to the official charity partners.
Runners can donate to a Run for a Reason official charity partner during the registration process or by visiting the Run for a Reason donation page – Donate Here!
Both participants and non-participants may create their own fundraising pages, donate to someone else’s campaign, or make a donation directly to the official charity of their choice from the Run for a Reason page. Please note that creating a fundraising page does not register you for our races.
Yes, the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason program offers alternative ways to enter the marathon and half marathon races through “HERO” charity registration and “Fundraising for Registration” options. Entries are available for a limited time for each race. Learn more on our charity page.
HERO entry: Minimum $350 donation, plus the registration fee.
Fundraising for Registration (FFR) entry: There is no cost to the participant for the registration, the charity covers the registration cost once the fundraising requirements are met by the participant.
The best and easiest way to raise money for the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason charity program is to create an online fundraising page. Using this fundraising page, you will be able to set a fundraising goal, email potential donors, keep track of your donations and send thank you emails.
To create your personal fundraising page, visit the Charity Index, or go to the Run for a Reason section on our website, scroll down to your preferred charity, click on their logo, then select your fundraising option. Enter your information to complete the process and create your fundraising page.
Yes! Companies, organizations and groups that would like to support an official charity through the Run for a Reason program can do so via our Corporate Partnership Program. The Corporate Partnership Program is an active way to encourage wellness, team building and charitable giving within your organization and alongside other like-minded companies. By participating in the event and fundraising on behalf of an official Run for a Reason charity partner, team members will receive amenities that will enhance their race weekend experience.
Click Here for more information about our Corporate Partnership Program.